Margaret Verble’s novels transport you to worlds that feel both familiar and brand new at once. Her stories often take place in Oklahoma and explore the history and culture of the Cherokee Nation.
In *When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky*, for instance, she puts together a story with a traveling circus and a young Cherokee woman. If you are interested in authors with a similar emphasis on place and character, here are some names you might like.
Louise Erdrich is a respected author known for her storytelling that blends contemporary life with vivid Native American history.
Her novel “The Night Watchman” explores the personal story of Thomas Wazhashk, a tribal leader who works at a factory by night and fights tirelessly against a government bill threatening the rights and lands of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa people.
Characters in this book deal with family bonds, daily struggles, and tough political battles. Erdrich depicts historical realities through deeply human stories, which readers of Margaret Verble will surely appreciate.
Linda Hogan is a Chickasaw novelist and poet whose works explore Native American culture, identity, and the natural world. Readers who appreciate Margaret Verble’s insightful storytelling might enjoy Hogan’s novel “Solar Storms.”
The story follows Angel, a young woman returning to her tribal homeland and the family she barely knows. Angel sets out on a powerful journey into the land of her ancestors, learning to reconnect with her family’s stories, traditions, and the wilderness surrounding them.
Hogan beautifully portrays the emotional bonds between generations and the complex relationship of native communities with their environment. Fans of Margaret Verble might find Hogan’s characters and voice deeply engaging.
Readers who enjoy Margaret Verble’s engaging storytelling and authentic exploration of Native American life may appreciate Sherman Alexie. Alexie, a Spokane-Coeur d’Alene author, often writes about contemporary Native American experiences with humor, warmth, and honesty.
His popular novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” follows teenager Arnold Spirit Jr., known as Junior, as he navigates life both on his Spokane reservation and in an all-white high school.
Through Junior’s humorous cartoons and heartfelt narrative, Alexie captures the struggle of balancing two vastly different worlds. The story thoughtfully portrays friendship, identity, family relationships, and the reality of growing up feeling pulled between cultures.
Joy Harjo is a writer whose words echo the power and rhythm of Native American storytelling. Readers who appreciate Margaret Verble may connect with Harjo’s memoir, “Crazy Brave.”
In this book, Harjo shares her journey from a challenging youth marked by family struggles into an adulthood rich with poetry, art, and self-discovery.
She includes vivid descriptions of the Oklahoma landscapes, showing how deeply the natural world influenced her stories, songs, and profound sense of place.
The memoir blends her life experiences, Muscogee heritage, and creative spirit in a narrative that brings history and identity to life. Harjo’s honest and heartfelt voice offers insight into both personal and collective stories of Indigenous people.
Readers who enjoy Margaret Verble may appreciate the work of N. Scott Momaday, a novelist and poet from the Kiowa tribe whose storytelling vividly captures Native American life and spirituality.
His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “House Made of Dawn,” is a powerful exploration of identity and connection set against the stark beauty of the American Southwest. The story follows Abel, a young Native American man returning home after serving in World War II.
Abel struggles with loss, trauma, and cultural disconnection, searching for meaning in a world that has dramatically changed.
Momaday thoughtfully portrays Abel’s journey through lyrical prose and deep emotional insight, reflecting rich traditions, landscapes, and spiritual beliefs at the core of indigenous experiences.
If you enjoy Margaret Verble’s storytelling and vivid portrayal of resilient characters facing life’s hardships, you might appreciate Sandra Dallas. Dallas captures historical settings and weaves in themes of friendship, community, and strength with warmth and authenticity.
Her novel “The Persian Pickle Club” is set in 1930s Kansas during the Great Depression. It follows a close-knit group of women who come together each week to quilt, share secrets, and support each other through life’s struggles and joys.
But a mysterious death shakes the community, challenging friendships and testing loyalty among these women. The story has humor, depth, and mystery, which makes it an engaging and thoughtful read.
Books by Thomas King often blend humor, history, and contemporary Indigenous experiences in engaging ways. If you enjoyed Margaret Verble, Thomas King might become one of your favorites too.
His novel “Green Grass, Running Water” weaves together native traditions, modern life, and playful storytelling to reveal a vibrant world full of intriguing characters.
The plot centers around four Indigenous elders who escape from a psychiatric institution, determined to set things right in the world. Along the way, King’s narrative explores themes of identity, storytelling, and the enduring strength of cultural connections.
Readers who enjoy Margaret Verble’s thoughtful storytelling and rich portrayal of complex characters may also find interest in William Kent Krueger. Krueger is known for weaving themes of family, heritage, and personal discovery into his novels.
His book “This Tender Land” follows four orphaned children—Odie, Albert, Mose, and Emmy—as they escape a harsh boarding school in Depression-era Minnesota.
As they journey down the river, each child faces challenges, encounters new friendships, and uncovers profound truths about the meaning of family and home.
The novel beautifully captures their resilience, hardships, and moments of hope within the historical backdrop of the Midwest.
Books by James Welch explore Native American life and history through vivid storytelling and deep, memorable characters. If you appreciate Margaret Verble’s novels for their authentic depiction of indigenous voices, you may find Welch’s work equally engaging.
Take “Winter in the Blood,” for example. Welch introduces us to a young Blackfeet man navigating loss, alienation, and his complicated personal identity.
The narrative weaves family memories, personal struggles, and the stark beauty of reservation life into a story both moving and insightful. Welch offers readers a quiet, powerful story that lingers long after the last page.
Toni Jensen is a Métis author whose thoughtful storytelling centers on Indigenous perspectives, landscapes, and identity.
Her powerful memoir, “Carry,” offers a personal and insightful look into the complexities of violence in America, explored uniquely through the lens of Indigenous experience.
Jensen blends personal narrative with a rich historical awareness, uncovering the impact of gun violence on both her own life and broader Native communities.
Readers who appreciate Margaret Verble’s nuanced portrayal of Native American life will find Jensen’s voice deeply resonant and eye-opening.
If you enjoy Margaret Verble’s storytelling rooted in Cherokee heritage and complex family histories, Diane Glancy is another author worth exploring. Glancy, a Cherokee descent writer, offers insightful tales about Native American identity, community, and individual struggle.
Her novel “Pushing the Bear” tells the story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears through multiple voices, vividly capturing the hardships and courage of those forced westward from their homeland.
Each character lends their unique perspective, creating a powerful and moving portrait of resilience and survival.
Diane Glancy brings emotional depth and historical clarity to her fiction, making “Pushing the Bear” a valuable read for anyone drawn to stories of strength and culture.
If you enjoy Margaret Verble’s storytelling that weaves together Native American culture, history, and emotional depth, you might also like Susan Power. Power is a Dakota author whose novel “The Grass Dancer” blends tradition, family, and the supernatural in unexpected ways.
Set on a reservation in North Dakota, the story unfolds through the lives of multiple characters across generations. It explores how their personal experiences interconnect through love, loss, and powerful ancestral memories.
Power brings Dakota traditions vividly to life and shows readers how past and present come together in the everyday lives of these richly drawn characters.
David Treuer is an Ojibwe author known for novels that explore Native American experiences with nuance, emotional depth, and cultural insight.
His novel “The Night Watchman” follows characters who wrestle with identity, tradition, and community amid the complexities of reservation life.
Set on a reservation in Minnesota during the 1950s, the story centers on Thomas Wazhashk, a Chippewa night watchman inspired by Treuer’s own grandfather.
Thomas challenges the government’s plan to terminate tribal rights, while at the same time balancing personal struggles and the everyday realities of reservation living.
Readers who appreciate Margaret Verble’s sensitive portrayals of Indigenous life may find Treuer’s thoughtful storytelling and richly drawn characters both moving and enlightening.
Readers who appreciate Margaret Verble’s stories might enjoy Kimberly Blaeser’s blend of cultural heritage and compelling storytelling. A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Blaeser often draws from her Native American background to create thoughtful poetry and prose.
Her poetry collection “Copper Yearning” explores themes of identity, nature, and tradition through vivid imagery and emotional depth. Blaeser examines connections between the environment and indigenous culture, inviting readers to see the world through different eyes.
Her vibrant poems offer an intimate look at Ojibwe life, with powerful reflections on history and community that stay with the reader.
Books by LeAnne Howe offer readers unique narratives that explore Native American themes and heritage through sharp storytelling and vivid characters. In her novel “Shell Shaker,” Howe weaves together history, mystery, and traditional Choctaw beliefs across two timelines.
The story connects an 18th-century Choctaw woman accused of murder and her descendants in modern-day Oklahoma, who face their own turmoil and accusations centuries later.
It is a fascinating portrayal of how past and present actions echo through generations, blending spiritual insights with well-crafted intrigue.
Readers who appreciate Margaret Verble’s thoughtful storytelling about Native American experiences and family bonds will likely find resonance in LeAnne Howe’s engaging prose and layered narratives.